Foot guard for railway track construction



Aug. 24, 1937.

A. ENSTROM FOOT GUARD FOR RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION Filed July 27, 19353 Sheets-Sheet l m & w 6

Aug. 24 1937. A. ENSTROM FOOT GUARD FOR RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTIONFiled-July 27, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 P v W m m on W sh m W Wv l W KN a nMn v Aug. 24, 1937.

A. ENSTROM 2,091,095 FOQT GUARD FOR RAILWAY TRACK CONSTRUCTION FiledJuly 27, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 24, 1937 UNITED STATES FOOTGUARD FOR RAILWAY TRACK CON- STRUCTION August Enstrom, Chicago, 111.,assignor, by mesne assignments, to Pettibone Mulliken Corporation,Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application July 27, 1935,Serial No. 33,607

18 Claims.

My invention relates to devices for filling in the angular spaces at thejunctions of angularly disposed railway rails as for example arepresented in railway frogs or switches, to the end of preventing theshoes of persons walking along the track from becoming caught in thesespaces.

My object generally stated is to provide a construction of thischaracter which will be simple andeconomical of construction, may bereadily applied to use and will be highly eifective for its intendedpurpose.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of a conventional railway frog showing a guarddevice, in accordance with my invention, located at one of the angularspaces referred to to be equipped with guard means.

Figure 2 is an enlarged plan View of the guardequipped part of the frogshown in Fig. l, a p-ortion of the frog being shown in section.

Figure 3 is a broken view in longitudinal section taken through thefrog, the section being ;taken at the line 3 on Fig. 2 and viewed in thedirection ofth'e arrow.

Figure 4 is a section taken at the irregular line 4-4 on Fig. 2 andviewed in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the members of which the guarddevice is composed.

Figure 6 is a fragmental face view of a modification of the plateportion forming a part of the guard device of the preceding figures ofthe drawings.

Figure 7 is a plan view of still another modification of the guarddevice.

Figure 8 is an edge view of the device of Fig. '7.

Figures 9 and 10 are edge views of two more modifications of the guarddevice.

Figure 11 is a perspectiveview of one of the '6- plurality of anglemembers forming parts of the way rails IB- and El, respectively, ascommonly provided and secured to the rail portions i l and [5 by sets ofjoint-bars each comprising the bars l8 and I9 spanning the jointsbetween these rail portions and the rail 16 and IT.

In accordance with common practice the jointbars are secured in place bybolts alternate ones of which are inserted into place from oppositesides of the rail structure as shown. Thus of the four bolts shown foreach pair of joint-bars thebolts 28 and 2! are inserted to place fromone side of the rail and the alternate bolts 22 and 23 inserted from theopposite side of the rail. The shanks of the various bolts adjacent theheads thereof are somewhat enlarged and made oval shape as representedat M of the bolts 22, these oval portions fitting in correspondinglyshaped openings in the joint-bars as shown at 25 of the hole for thebolt 22 to hold the bolts against turning in the tightening of the nutsthereon to firmly clamp the joint-bars to the rails and frog.

The angular space defined by the rail portions M and i5 and rails it andH! is an example of a space required to be provided with a foot guard,my improved guard being shown, by way ofexample, as located in suchspace.

The guard representedgenerally at 26 comprises a bar-like member N ofangle shape incross-section aflording a vertical flange 28 and ahorizontal flange 29; and a plate member 33. The member 21 is adapted tobe secured at its vertical flange 28 to the bolts holding thejoi'ntbarsl8 and it in position and the plate 30, which in the particularconstruction shown is of Wedge shape to correspond with the shap-eof thespace in which the guard is located, to cooperatewith the horizontal,flange 29 in substantially filling the space, lies flatwise against theflange 29 and is secured thereto, preferably adjustably, as by the meanshereinafter described, theplate 30 being provided at its ends withdownwardly inclined portions iii to protect persons from thrusting theirshoes under the guard device.

The vertical flange 28 is shown as cut away as represented at 32 and 33,the remaining alternating portions of the flange 28 and represented at 33 and being horizontally slotted at 36. The slots 35 open through theends of the flange portions 3 and 35 at which they are constricted as byproviding the opposing projections on the flange portions 34 and 35 asrepresented at 36 and 36 The width of the slots 36 at the constrictedportions thereof formed by the projections 36 and 35 is slightly lessthan the diameter of the shanks of the rail bolts and the width of theotherportions of the slots 36 is slightly greater than the diameter ofthe shanks. Thus upon slightly loosening the nuts on the bolts 22 and 23the guard may be applied to position thereon by sliding the guardlengthwise along the rails to enter the shanks through the open ends ofthe slots 3%, the projections'tii springing away from the projections 36by reason of the springiness of the metal of which the guard section'2'! is constructed, the cut away parts 32 and 33 of the flange 28registering with the nuts on the: others of the bolts thus avoiding theneed of loosening these nuts in applying the guard to position.

Following the application of the guard to'the bolts 22 and 23 as statedthe operator tightens the nuts on these bolts (the enlargements 24 attheir portions of greater diameter extending lengthwise of the slots 35)thus drawing the heads of the bolts tightly against the flange 28 andfirmly securing the guard device in position on the track. I

As will be understood, the provision of the slots 36 elongatedas shownadapts the guard for connection with rails the securing bolts of whichare spaced apart different distances; and the provision of theconstricted portions at the ends of the slots present shoulders whichprevent lengthwise movement of the guard device out of engagement withthe rail bolts in the event of loosening of these bolts.

The plate 30 is secured to the flange 29 by means of stud bolts 31 rigidwith the flange 29 and extending upwardly therethrough and into openingsin the plate 3!], nuts 38 screwed on the upper end of the bolts 3'!rigidly securing the plate to the flange 29.

It is desirable that the plate 30 be adjustable on the flange 29crosswise of the rails to adapt the guard to properly fill the spacebetween the rails. To this end in this particular construction theopenings in the plate through which the bolts 3'! extend are in the formof a pair of slots 39 for cooperation with each bolt 37 and extendingcrosswise of the plate. Each slot 39 is provided along one longitudinaledge with a series of recesses 40 the recesses of one slot beingstaggered relative to the recesses of the other slot. The width of theslots at the portions thereof between the recesses is less than thediameter of the bolts 3'! and thus when the bolts are entered in any ofthese recesses they cannot become accidentally displaced laterallytherefrom when force is exerted tending to relatively move the bolts 31and plate 30 in a direction crosswise of the rails.

The staggering of the recesses as stated, in the arrangement shownserves as a means for effecting a relatively fine adjustment of theplate 30 on the member 21 in a direction crosswise of the rails.

The bolts 31 are located adjacent one edge of the guard, thus leavingspaces between the nuts 38 and the opposite rail, of such width as topossibly afford danger of the shoe of a person stepping on the guardbecoming wedged between the nuts and the rail last referred to; and toovercome such danger the plate 30, at the spaces referred to, isprovided with upwardly extending projections 4! shown as, andpreferably, of general frusto-pyramid shape and produced by upwardlydeforming the metal of the plate.

If desired the alternating recess feature just described may be embodiedin a construction in which a single slot only instead of a pair of theslots 39 is provided for cooperation with each bolt 31. Such anembodiment is illustrated in Fig. 6 wherein the single slot representedat 42 is provided along its opposite longitudinal edges with series ofrecesses 43 and 44, respectively, disposed in staggered relation andinto any of which the bolt 31 cooperating therewith may be positionedbut only by inserting the bolt lengthwise into the selected recess, theplate 30 being held against shifting on the bolts 3! crosswise of therails because of the narrowness of the slot 42.

The guard of Figs. '7 and 8 is of the same construction as that shown inFigs. 1-5, inclusive, except as to the slotting of the plate 30 topermit of crosswise adjustment on the member 21, in

this construction the slots in the plate for receiving the bolts 3! andrepresented at 45, being plain elongated slots unprovided with recessesalong their longitudinal edges.

The guard shown in Fig. 9 is of the same construction as the guard ofFigs. 7 and 8, except that the slots represented herein at 46 andprovided to receive the rail bolts, are closed throughout their marginsinstead of opening laterally, this construction, however, being lessdesirable than those of the preceding figures as the installation ofsuch a guard would require that the rail bolts which enter the slots 46be entered endwise into them.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 10 and 11 constitutes an embodiment of myinvention ina structure in which the supporting member of the guard,instead of being provided as a one piece angle member such as the member21, is formed of a pair of angle sections 41 adapted to engage with therail bolts (such as the bolts 22 and 23) at the slots 48 in theirvertical angle portions 49, (these slots if desired being each open atone end as in the case of the slots 36). The horizontal flanges 5|] ofthe members 41 are provided with stud bolts 5|, like the bolts 31 andsupported on the horizontal flanges 50 and secured thereto by nuts 52 onthe bolts 5|, is a plate 53 like the plate 30, adjustment of the plate53 on the members 49 crosswise of the rails being provided for, ifdesired, by the provision of any suitable crosswise extending slots inthe plate 53, as for example as explained of the preceding describedconstruction.

Figure 12 illustrates a modification of the means for preventing theshoe of a person from becoming wedged between the nuts 38 and theopposite rail. These means, shown in connection with the parallelbolt-slots 39 of preceding Figures 1-4, inclusive, comprises ribs 39which extend upwardly from the plate 30 crosswise thereof andsubstantially parallel with the slots, these ribs being formed bypressing upwardly the metal of the plate 30 to the approximate shape ofrib as shown.

The ribs 39 not only perform the protecting function referred to butalso serve as means for locking the nuts 38 in place, these ribs to thisend being located close to the slots 39 whereby as the nuts are screweddown tight the resistance afforded by the ribs in reacting on the nutstends to deflect the nuts on the threaded shanks of the bolts and thusaugment resistance to unscrewing of the nuts.

Ribs, double-functioning, as stated, may be also utilized where thebolt-slots are provided otherwise than as shown in Figs. 1-4, such asfor example as provided in accordance with the showing in Fig. 6 or Fig.7. Where the slots are provided as in Fig. 6 such ribs would be providedat opposite sides of, and substantially parallel with, the slot 42; andwhere provided as shown in Fig. 7 such a rib would be positionedalongside of, and parallel with, each slot 45.

As will be manifest the guard members should present such resistance asnot to unduly yield under any weight which is likely to be placedthereon, a condition upon which the term substantially rigid as used inthe appended claims is predicated.

. While I have illustrated and described certain particularconstructions constituting embodiments of my invention, I do not wish tobe understood as intending to limit it thereto as the same may bevariously modified and altered and the invention embodied in other formsof structure without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and of angular shape in cross section formed of sheetmetal and having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to besecured at its vertical flange to a rail, said vertical flange havingapertures having upper and lower walls for engaging the rail-bolts andelongated horizontally to adapt the guard to be applied to rails havingdifferent bolt-spacings, said flange having spaced apart portions inwhich said apertures are provided, each of said apertures being open atcorresponding sides so that the said portions may be disposed betweenbolts of the rails and the guard then moved longitudinally of the rails.for interengagement of the apertures and bolts, said foot guardsubstantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

2. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and of angular shape in cross section formed of sheetmetal and having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to besecured at its vertical flange to a rail, a plate lapping with thehorizontal flange of said member and means securing together said memberand plate, said vertical flange having apertures for engaging therail-bolts and elongated horizontally sufficiently to: adapt the guardto be applied to rails having different bolt-spacings, said flangehaving spaced apart portions in which said apertures are provided, eachof said apertures being open at corresponding sides so that the saidportions may be disposed between bolts of the rails and the guard thenmoved longitudinally of the rails for interengagement of the aperturesand bolts, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the spacebetween said rails.

3. A foot guard for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and of angular shape in cross section formed of sheetmetal and having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to besecured at its vertical flange to a rail, said vertical flange havingapertures for engaging the rail-bolts, said apertures being of a heightsubstantially equal to the thickness of those parts of the bolts whichextend through said apertures and elongated horizontally to adapt theguard to be applied to rails having different bolt-spacings, said flangehaving spaced apart portions in which said apertures are provided, eachof said apertures being open at corresponding sides so that the saidportions may be disposed between bolts of the rails and the guard thenmoved longitudinally of the rails for interengagement of the aperturesand bolts, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the spacebetween said rails.

4. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and comprising a member of angular shape in crosssec-- tion having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to besecured at its vertical flange to a rail, a plate lapping with thehorizontal flange of said member and means securing together said memberand plate, said vertical flange having apertures for engaging therail-bolts, said apertures being of a height substantially equal to thethickness of those portions of the bolts which extend through saidopenings and elongated horizontallyto adapt the guard to be applied torails having different bolt-spacings, said flange having spaced apartportions in which said apertures are provided, each of said aperturesbeing open at coresponding sides so that the said portions may bedisposed between bolts of the rails and the guard then movedlongitudinally of the rails for interengagement of the apertures andbolts, said foot guard substantially crosswise filling the space betweensaid rails.

5. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and of angular shape in cross section having verticaland horizontal flanges and adapted to be secured at its vertical flangeto a rail, said vertical flange having spaced apart portions eachprovided with an aperture for engaging the rail-bolts and openingthrough the edge of said vertical flange generally in the direction ofthe length of the guard to permit of application of the guard to therail upon merely loosening the bolts, said foot guard substantiallycrosswise filling the space between said rails.

6. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and comprising a member of angular shape in crosssection having vertical and horizontal flanges and adapted to be securedat its vertical flange to a rail, a plate lapping with the horizontalflange of said member, and means securing together said member andplate, said vertical flange having spaced apart portions each providedwith an aperture for engaging the rail-bolts and opening generally inthe direction of the length of the guard to permit or" application ofthe guard to the rail upon merely loosening the bolts, said foot guardsubstantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

7. A foot guard, forthe space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and comprising a member of angular shape in crossseczontal flange of said member and supported.

wholly by said horizontal flange and means connecting together saidhorizontal flange and plate sald foot guard substantially crosswisefilling the space between said rails.

8. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and formed of members one of which is of angle shapein cross section and has vertical and horizontal portions and is adaptedto be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, and the other of whichhas a horizontal portion, and means for securing together said membersat their horizontal portions comprising a projection engaged with one ofsaid portions and series of projection-receiving openings in the otherof said portions extending crosswise of the guard, the openings of oneseries thereof being staggered relative to the openings of the other ofsaid series, said members being relatively adjustable crosswise of theguard to adapt the guard to substantially crosswise fill the spacebetween. said rails.

9. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and formed of members one of which is of angle shapein cross section and has vertical and horizontal portions and is adaptedto be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, and the other of whichhas a horizontal portion, and means for securing together said membersat their horizontal portions comprising a projection engaged with one ofsaid portions and slots in the other of said portions extendingcrosswise of the guard and each having a series of projection-receivingrecesses along an edge thereof, the recesses of one series thereof beingstaggered relative to the recesses of the other of said series, saidmembers being relatively adjustable crosswise of the guard to adapt theguard to substantially crosswise fill the space between said rails.

10. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and formed of members one of which is of angle shapein cross section and has vertical and horizontal portions and is adaptedto be secured at its vertical flange to a rail, and the other of whichhas a horizontal portion, and means for securing together said membersat their horizontal portions comprising a projection engaged with one ofsaid portions and a slot in the other of said portions extendingcrosswise of the guard and having a series of projection-receivingrecesses in each of its opposite side walls, the recesses of one seriesthereof being staggered relative to the recesses of the other of saidseries, said members being relatively adjustable crosswise of the guardto adapt the guard to substantially crosswise fill the space betweensaid rails.

11. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and formed of sections, means securing said sectionstogether and comprising a bolt the nut of which is exposed at the uppersurface of the guard, and an upwardly extending projection on the guardpositioned to prevent the wedging of the shoe of a person between saidbolt and an adjacent rail and operative in the tightening of the nut totilt the latter for looking it in place, said foot guard substantiallycrosswise filling the space between said rails.

12. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and formed of sections, means securing said sectionstogether and comprising a bolt the nut of which isexposed at the uppersurface of the guard, one of said sections having a slot extendingcrosswise of the guard and receiving a bolt, and an upwardly extendingrib on the guard extending substantially parallel with, and adjacent to,said slot and operative to prevent wedging of the shoe of a personbetween said bolt and an adjacent rail and operative in the tighteningof the nut to tilt the latter for looking it in place, said foot guardsubstantially crosswise filling the space between said rails.

13. A track construction comprising rails presenting a spacetherebetween, and a foot guard of substantially rigid construction forsaid space formed of sections, means securing said sections together andin said space and comprising a part which projects upwardly from theupper surface of the guard closer to one rail than to the other rail andupwardly projecting means on the guard positioned to prevent wedging ofthe shoe of a person between said part and one of the rails.

14. A track construction comprising rails presenting a spacetherebetween, and a foot guard of substantially rigid construction forsaid space formed of sections, means securing said sections together andin said space and comprising a part which projects upwardly from theupper surface of the guard adjacent an edge thereof and upwardlyprojecting means on said guard between said part and the rail at theopposite edge of the guard, for the purpose set forth.

15. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rails, of substantiallyrigid construction and of angular shape in cross section having verticaland horizontal flanges and adapted to be secured at its vertical flangeto a rail, said vertical flange having apertures for engaging therailbolts open at one side for engagement with the rail-bolts throughlongitudinal movement to permit of application of the guard to the railupon merely loosening the bolts, the distance between the walls of saidapertures at the entrance ends thereof being less than the diameter ofthe bolts and the metal of said vertical flange being sufficientlyspringy to permit of the entry of the bolts into said apertureslaterally through said entrance ends, said foot guard substantiallycrosswise filling the space between said rails.

16. A foot guard, for the space between adjacent rafis, of substantiallyrigid construction and formed of sections, means securing together saidsections and comprising a part which projects upwardly from the uppersurface of the guard adjacent one edge thereof, and means for preventingthe shoe of a person from becoming caught between said part and the oneof the rails adjacent the other edge of said guard comprising anupwardly extending projection on the guard between said part and theopposite edge of the guard, said guard substantially crosswise fillingthe space between said rails.

17. A foot guard for the space between adjacent rails comprising anangle member having one flange horizontally disposed and the otherflange vertically disposed, said vertical flange having spaced apartportions, each of said portions having a longitudinally elongated slotopen at one side of the portion, one of said slots being constrictedadjacent its entrance, said portions being disposable between bolts of arail joint and then movable longitudinally to engage adjacent bolts inthe slots, and a horizontal plate substantially of wedge shape connectedto said horizontal flange.

18. A foot guard for the space between adjacent rails comprising anangle member having one flange horizontally disposed and the otherflange vertically disposed, said vertical flange having spaced apartportions, each of said portions having a longitudinally elongated slotopen at one side of the portion, one of said slots being constrictedadjacent its entrance, said portions being disposable between bolts of arail joint and then movable longitudinally to engage adjacent bolts inthe slots, a horizontal plate disposed on said horizontal flange,securing means connecting the plate and horizontal flange, an upwardlyextending projection on the plate positioned to prevent the wedging ofthe shoe of a person between said securing means and an adjacent rail.

AUGUST ENSTROM.

